I Became the illegitimate son of a duke

38 – Manufacture (2)

“Greetings, everyone. Before going into details, I’d like to thank you all for coming here.”

Before gathering workers to work in the factory, I also gathered artisans in the fields to be built into the factory.

Artisans who make pottery, artisans who make furniture, artisans who make clothes, artisans who make wagons, artisans who make rugs, artisans who make glass, artisans who make beer, and so on. , I greet them warmly.

“…Meet the Duke of Burgon.”

“Uh, don’t be like that. I didn’t bring you all together to get a cumbersome greeting.”

Some artisans with frightened faces greeted me as per the etiquette, so I panicked and stopped.

Because artisans have a high level of pride in their profession, it is very likely that they will have negative feelings toward manufacturers that mass-produce products of appropriate quality.

However, in order to create a Manufacture, the collaboration of artisans in the field is essential, so it is necessary to take care of their convenience as much as possible and match their mood. It’s a bit difficult to create such a high-pressure atmosphere already.

No matter how much I know more than the average person, I won’t be able to compete with artisans who have spent their entire lives in one field.

“Kheum, the reason I called you all like this is for business.”

“Business… You mean?”

“Yes, it’s a business that makes many products at once.”

I am puzzled by my answer in the eyes of the artisans.

Of course, the common sense of a craftsman who spends a long time on one product means that producing many products at once means insufficient quality. For a craftsman, this is nonsense.

“I want you guys to help with that business. In return, I’ll give you money if you want money, and I’ll give you something else if you want something else.”

“That…”

“Tell me.”

“Could you tell us more about your business? Like what it does, how it works…”

“Oh, yes.”

Several artisans raise their hands with determined faces and ask reasonable questions.

I didn’t even tell you in detail about the factory-made handicraft, but if you ask for cooperation, of course they will express their disapproval. I should have said this first.

“The business I am envisioning is factory-made, which means that each worker is in charge of only one part of the manufacturing sector. This will speed up the work tremendously and allow mass production of many items. Mastery in all parts. Of course it’s easier to be mastered in one area than to become one.”

“Hmm… That’s right.”

After those words, the hall fell silent. Both the frightened craftsman and the puzzled craftsman are all just watching while holding their breath and rolling their eyes here and there.

As expected, I don’t like it very much.

All artisans here were created through apprenticeship education, and they are also nurturing younger students through apprenticeship education. It takes a lot of time and effort for an apprentice to grow into a decent craftsman who makes good things, but from their point of view, it would be no different than passing it off as an expedient and mass-producing idiots who only know one thing.

To be honest, that is also true. If you need 10 processes to make something, you assign one person to each of those 10 processes and only do one thing.

It is only when 10 people get together that a product can be made normally, but that means from the artisan’s point of view, only 10 people get together are idiots who can make one serving.

“…Whoops.”

At that time, an old craftsman who looked a bit eccentric looked around, sighed, and came forward.

“What is it?”

“Your Highness, I am a brewer who has been making only alcohol all my life. May I ask you one thing?”

“Sure, of course. You can ask more than one.”

At my answer, the brewmaster cleared his throat a little before continuing.

“Not only me, but all artisans value confidentiality the most.”

“Confidential?”

“Yes, it is. The very important thing that differentiates oneself from other artisans of similar trades. That is why artisans scrutinize everything carefully when taking on a new apprentice. If he is a spy or an idiot who is just trying to break a secret. The centuries-old tradition will be circulated on the streets.”

The knights and soldiers are slightly agitated because the craftsman said harsh words in front of me that I am an idiot, but thanks to my signal, they calm down.

“If you join the factory-based handicraft, won’t the secrets of making quality products that we’ve been protecting literally be released to the world? Then, no matter how much money you give, it’s difficult to participate. You can only do one thing. Even if it means creating a lot of rude people who know how to do it, I can’t betray the previous masters who have kept the tradition for hundreds of years.”

“…I see.”

I’m a bit at a loss for words when it comes out like this.

Certainly, from the perspective of artisans, it can be seen as a betrayal of selling a tradition that has been kept for hundreds of years.

…I can’t stay still for now, so let’s say something.

“First of all, there will be no risk of technology leakage. As I said before, factory-made handicrafts focus on nurturing people who only do one thing. In other words, workers learn the field Except for that, I know nothing about other fields.”

“…Certainly, yes.”

After my words, the artisans nodded little by little.

For those who know how many processes go into making an object, no matter how simple it may seem, they quickly noticed that there was little risk of leaking secrets just because they knew only one field.

In fact, for this reason, it is said that the factories that operated manufactures rarely leaked confidential information. Kidnapping or bribing a worker is of little value because he only knows what he is doing.

“But isn’t it the same as telling us about our technology?”

“Hmm… I called you guys because I wanted skills, so I can’t help it. But the skills you’re talking about and the skills I’m talking about seem a bit different.”

“What do you mean by that?”

The expressions of the artisans gradually loosen up after my repeated explanations.

Just a moment ago, he had the expression [What kind of bullsh*t?], But now it has changed to [Let’s listen]. OK, just twist a little bit more.

“So, the most important thing is not to ask for any special secrets. You did the same before, right? Confidentiality means that you can differentiate yourself from other artisans who do similar jobs.”

“…Yes, it is.”

“Doesn’t that mean that artisans in similar occupations make things through similar processes, then infuse inspiration or secrets into them to create their own unique work?”

“Mmm… That’s right.”

In other words, artisans go through a lot of similar processes to other artisans when creating a certain work.

Of course. For example, no matter how uniquely beer is made using fermentation barrels using unusual trees or temperature control, it does not change that it is made by fermenting with malt, hops, and water.

“You don’t have to teach the workers in the factory your own traditions. Just aim to make a lot of good quality stuff. Just give advice on what the other artisans know.”

“As far as everyone knows…”

The expression of the artisans softens considerably.

I was a little nervous because what I said could be seen as [Isn’t it all there and there anyway?] If you look at it crookedly, but they didn’t seem to care much because they all knew it anyway.

“I want everyone to be able to use good quality products at a low price. I’m not trying to make a lot of good quality products and eliminate your place. , You are targeting the upper class and the upper middle class. Besides, if factory-made goods are widespread, people are more likely to find yours.”

“Why is that?”

“It’s human nature to want to use something unique made just for you, when you can use the same thing that everyone else uses.”

The artisans nodded in agreement. Because they don’t want to make the same thing as others, it’s a very good feeling.

Okay, it’s over.

“Everyone, will you cooperate? I’m begging you.”

“Hmm…Well, it’s okay to know everything anyway.”

“I’m fine too.”

“It’s good because it helps people who are too poor to buy things.”

After repeated persuasion, the artisans finally decide to supervise the factory’s work process. There were still a few artisans who tilted their heads a little, but I, the duke, took a low attitude and asked for it, and they reluctantly agreed.

‘You will be criticized a lot by the disciples of later generations… But isn’t the current life important? I’ll give you a lot of money.’

The factory-based handicraft developed over time as know-how was accumulated and it became possible to mass-produce quality goods, which combined with the Industrial Revolution led to the annihilation of artisans.

At that time, artisans who felt their livelihoods were threatened tried to get rid of the factory using all kinds of means, such as the Luddite movement, but the times had already changed, but it had changed a long time ago.

The artisans who accepted my proposal now will be resentful of the future artisans after a few generations, but by then everyone will be dead anyway, so it doesn’t really matter, right?